[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 165 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ANNIVERSARY OF THE UKRAINIAN FAMINE-GENOCIDE OF 1932-1933

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                         HON. BRENDAN F. BOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2015

  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as we near the 
anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933, I would like 
to extend my deepest sympathies to the victims, survivors and families 
of this tragedy.
   During this time, nearly 10 million Ukrainians were killed under the 
direction of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin who ordered the borders of 
Ukraine sealed to prevent anyone from escaping the man-made starvation 
and prevent any international food aid from entering.
   Grain harvests were deliberately confiscated so millions of innocent 
men, women and children starved all to destroy the nationally conscious 
movement for independence.
   In 1985, the United States Commission on the Ukraine Famine formed 
to expand the world's knowledge and understanding of the events of this 
genocide of 1932-1933. They found that the victims were ``starved to 
death in a man-made famine'' and that ``Joseph Stalin and those around 
him committed genocide against Ukrainians in 1932-1933".
   And so, today I stand here in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, 
to remember the suffering experienced under Stalin. I am a proud 
representative of Pennsylvania's 13th District where I have many 
Ukrainian constituents whom I would like to specifically acknowledge.
   I commend the Congress when in 2006 legislation was enacted to 
authorize the construction of a memorial in the District of Columbia to 
honor the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. Today, we can see 
the culmination of this effort with a meaningful memorial by Union 
Station that I visited earlier today.
   Unfortunately, today many people have never heard of Holodomor, 
despite the 10 million that perished. I call for more efforts to be 
made like that of the Commission to educate the public on this issue, 
so everyone understands the events of this genocide. We must learn our 
history so we do not repeat the mistakes of our past. We must ensure 
this never happens again--especially at a time where Russia continues 
to show aggression in Ukraine.

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